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How to Declutter in 10 Easy Steps

Updated on June 6, 2009

I come from a family of pack rats! I inherited the clutter gene! That means I tend to hang on to stuff - clothing, printed material, books, kitchenware, you name it! I realize that we all tend to keep some significant to us"stuff" - some of this "stuff" I am thankful I held on to, but other things I have no business still being in possession of!

If you don't know where to start, here are 10 steps to make your decluttering task not seem so overwhelming.

  1. Be in the right frame of mind to get rid of things. Adopt a minimalist mindset. Remember to stop working on your decluttering effort when you tend to question and hold on to things.
  2. If you wake up at 3 AM with insomnia, try cleaning out a drawer or closet.
  3. Get rid of things that need to be glued back together ( this includes refrigerator magnets and legs on collectible figurines.) If you did not take the time to fix it within the first week and stuck it in a drawer, it will work its way to the back and be forgotten.
  4. Get rid of plastic containers or lids that don't have mates.
  5. Recycle clothing that you have not wore in a year.
  6. Survey your garden and if you have a surplus of empty flower pots, plant them and brighten up your yard or give them away.
  7. Reorganize and clean out your garage on a quarterly basis.
  8. If your home does not have library shelves, sell books you don't need on Half.com
  9. Regift items that are brand new and unopened, when appropriate.
  10. If you are paying money for a storage unit, try to evaluate whether or not it is really worth paying a monthly rent for the value of the stuff inside.

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